Xbox One

[John McHenry]

Microsoft has unveiled the new Xbox, and it's called Xbox One. It's Microsoft's first new console in over seven years. Yes, we've had many expectations for this console, especially since Sony and Nintendo have already taken their first steps in the next-gen landscape. Here's what you need to know that was announced at Microsoft's event in Redmond.

The original Xbox debuted in the fall of 2005, which feels like a million years ago...even if it's only seven and a half. It's high time for a new console, even if some tech pundits are questioning the value of gaming hardware platforms in the current age.

The Xbox One is large, sleek, black, and looks like a piece of AV equipment. The controller and Kinect unit are redesigned, too. Xbox promises that this is a better-connected way of linking TV, games, and entertainment in one unit -- something the Xbox 360 already does, but will do more via commands like "Xbox On.

Home Entertainment

Microsoft promises that you're "going to have a relationship with your TV." The next Xbox tries to take on a living room that has become "too complex," and make a system that knits games, TV and entertainment.

So, how will that happen?

There are universal gestures such as grab and pan and swipe up: watching live TV will involve maximizing and minimizing the screen in a top corner. Live TV will be part of the Xbox One experience, via HDMI-in. Yes, cable TV looks like part of the package.

The Xbox One knits together new voice commands to do some PC-like stuff: order movie tickets, for instance, engage in Skype, or pull up fantasy sports stats while watching a game.

Specs

Under the hood, details so far include: an 8-core processor, 8GB of RAM, Blu-ray, USB 3, HDMI in/out, and a 500GB hard drive. Besides all of this, Microsoft is promising a new operating system fusing Xbox and Windows.

Xbox One architecture has "three operating systems in one": Xbox, a kernel of Windows (perhaps like Windows RT), and a multitasking interface. The idea seems to be that this console will be a multitasker at heart.

New Kinect

A new Kinect comes with the Xbox One, with improved accuracy. There’s a 1080p camera, Skype connectivity, and understanding of rotational movement in a structure like skeleton. Microsoft even claims the new Kinect can read your heartbeat. It can also recognize your controller, not just your hands--suggesting use cases that sound a little like the PlayStation Move’s wand.

New Controller

The Xbox controller’s gotten a revamp with an integrated battery, improved ergonomics, a better d-pad, and improved-response triggers. It looks similar but has gotten a bunch of gamer-oriented tweaks.

SmartGlass

The tablet-based SmartGlass experience will be around on Xbox One, and will work as before with a variety of phones and tablets.

Xbox Live

Built on the existing service and user names, the new Xbox Live promises 300,000 servers for Xbox One, a whopping number. Matchmaking services will work while doing other tasks like watching movies or web-browsing, and bigger, faster-connecting matches are promised, too.

Games

Microsoft plans 8 new franchises for the Xbox One in the first year, a hopeful sign for a platform that’s become too sequel-dependent. Of course, Forza 5 was shown off, but a new game called Quantum Break from the developers of Alan Wake looks like the sort of game we’re more used to seeing from PlayStation: a big-studio design and cinematic feel.

TV on Xbox

“Xbox is going to be the next water cooler.” That was said during the Xbox event to discuss the Xbox One's role as a social TV platform. To that end, it sounds like Microsoft is developing TV shows and original programming for the Xbox One, making a greater leap into Netflix-like original programming. Steven Spielberg announced a new Halo TV series, and the NFL demonstrated some level of interaction with fantasy stats and Skyping with NFL broadcasts.

Availability

The Xbox One will be available "later this year," so that means 2013 after all. Price and a specific date will have to wait...after all, E3 is just weeks away.

It has everything I'd want it too. Shame I haven't heard if they addressed the always online feature. I assume Live will stay subscription based changing it now would only cause people to feel more cheated. Release date this year is nice to hear shame we didn't get a price tag.

Probably one of the biggest announcements in relation is the Steven Spielberg produced TV series. Once we start getting more details on that it'll get it's own thread in the Entertainment section.

 

[Weez]

Confirmed The "Always-On" feature isn't *REQUIRED* but is an option for developers for their games. 360 and XBLA games NOT Backwards Compatible. Mandatory Game installs. MS confirms a "Used game fee" when Xbox recognizes a used game in the system. No details yet. Kinect REQUIRED for Xbox to function.

FIFA, Madden, NBA Live, UFC, Quantum Break (Remedy new IP), Watch Dogs, Destiny, Call of Duty: Ghosts confirmed thus far

Gamerscore and avatar, gamertags will Transfer over.

Source: IGN https://www.facebook.com/ign?hc_location=stream

 

[CaptainxBumout]

I've heard about Xbox doing some original programming for awhile now. There were talks of bring back Heroes for it. I've never really been a Halo guy so we'll see if I get into the show. I didn't watch the conference but I'm not that impressed yet. I'm glad Blu Ray is finally in the Xbox. We don't need multiple disks anymore.

 

[Tapout]

Yep. This confirms it. Getting a PS4. Online based? Terrible. I hate online gaming. A used game fee? Fucking Blue. Automatic installation of games? No thank you.

This is a huge stepdown from the 360. Very disappointing.

 

[John McHenry]

Yep. This confirms it. Getting a PS4. Online based? Terrible. I hate online gaming. A used game fee? Fucking Blue. Automatic installation of games? No thank you.

This is a huge stepdown from the 360. Very disappointing.

You do know that PS4 has been confirmed to be doing some of these too? It's also not backward compatible and they are also trying to prevent used gaming. Not sure what you going on about online based as they are all already online based. I'm just happy that Xbox has confirmed that it doesn't need to always be online.

Also like the fact that they aren't just shoving the 360 out the door.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Used Game Fee. Single most backasswards idea in the history of gaming. Now if I want to borrow a game from a friend, I have to borrow their fucking console too!

Cant wait to see the list of games that get shit sales just because people cant try before they buy, or ditch a game that sucked balls.

 

[Defiant]

Looks great for people who aren't particularly interested in videogames. Just one more incentive for me to instead make the hop to PC gaming when this gen is through, where the focus is on the games and user convenience and not gimmicky command inputs and social media.

I'm one of the few cavemen these days that actually prefers the console experience, slumped on the couch in front of the TV. But with all the uncertain online requirements, redundant and important features, and the move to eliminate the used game market, both Sony and Microsoft are making it pretty hard for me.

 

[John McHenry]

Microsoft is attempting to clarify what is quickly becoming a convoluted and confusing situation for gamers.

In a blog post, Major Nelson has some good news. "Should you choose to play your game at your friend’s house, there is no fee to play that game while you are signed in to your profile," Nelson wrote. The blog post also mentioned that customers will be able to trade and sell their used games at retail outlets.

However, Microsoft executive Phil Harrison, in an interview with Kotaku, has some potentially bad news. The aforementioned 'fee' to play games on a second account? Full MSRP. So unless you want to use your account for your entire family, you'll be dishing out an extra $40, $50, $60 for siblings or friends to try out new games. Harrison did tell Kotaku that his company plans to allow gamers to 'trade' their used games online somehow - though declined to get into further details.

IGN will update this story with more details as we hear them.

Well I'm actually ok with this. It should also help online game play by limiting alt accounts.

 

[NotReallyaGoodUN]

No offense but the launch lineup sucks monkey cock.

I don't know why I said that, but you get the general idea. And Xbox one is a fucking Blue name.

This generation of consoles will be the final gen of consoles, at least as we know it. I have a strong feeling in my gut that this is the case.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Only thing in that lineup I'm remotely interested in is Destiny. Otherwise I'm not a huge fan of this console. Doesn't even seem like a console. Why does it have to do everything? I can watch TV on my actual TV. It should be mainly used for gaming and watching movies. I'm an old fashioned console gamer. I buy the console to play the games, it just seems like they over complicated everything.

 

[John McHenry]

Only thing in that lineup I'm remotely interested in is Destiny. Otherwise I'm not a huge fan of this console. Doesn't even seem like a console. Why does it have to do everything? I can watch TV on my actual TV. It should be mainly used for gaming and watching movies. I'm an old fashioned console gamer. I buy the console to play the games, it just seems like they over complicated everything.

Seems like their goal is convience personally I like the idea of having one box as opposed to the xbox, bluray, roku (before netflix was on xbox) and laptop connected to my tv(streaming ppvs). One box??? XBox One...

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Seems like their goal is convience personally I like the idea of having one box as opposed to the xbox, bluray, roku (before netflix was on xbox) and laptop connected to my tv(streaming ppvs). One box??? XBox One...

I'm down for convenience. But it just seems like a cluster of stuff. They are basically giving you what PS3 already has done...

 

[NotReallyaGoodUN]

Should have called it Xbox ∞. (Infinite capabilities)

I heard that somewhere else and thought it was bad. Guess what? It wasn't as bad as what they decided to call it.

 

[John McHenry]

Should have called it Xbox ∞. (Infinite capabilities)

I heard that somewhere else and thought it was bad. Guess what? It wasn't as bad as what they decided to call it.

Actually I think that may have been one of the names for windows they turned the 8 sideways if I recall correctly.



If it worked for PS3 why wouldn't they do it and build on it?

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Actually I think that may have been one of the names for windows they turned the 8 sideways if I recall correctly.



If it worked for PS3 why wouldn't they do it and build on it?

Why would people pay an abundant amount of money for something they can get for much cheaper? I just think Microsoft is a little late to this party.